Identification of genetic factors affecting tail biting in pigs

Abstract

Tail biting is a behaviour in pigs that leads to considerable pain, injury and in severe cases mortality in victims of tail biting. Further, biters start tail biting because their own welfare is compromised. The causes of tail biting are multi-factorial and the prevalence of tail biting may depend on interactions between some factors of the environment and the animal. This makes it difficult to find solutions to reduce the incidence of tail biting. So far, information about genetic factors affecting tail biting is limited partly due to the fact that data about incidence of tail biting is limited. Previous research has focussed on tail biters and only recently has first information about genetic factors affecting the incidence of victims of tail biting become available. These first results indicate that selection of pig genotypes that have a lower risk of being victims of tail biting offers an opportunity to change the predisposition of pigs to become victims of tail biting.